New Yamaha unit, more details

[flecc]

Martin at e-bikeshop has passed an article to me with further information on this motor which I thought you might appreciate seeing.

Here's the link
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[mountainsport]

Martin at e-bikeshop has passed an article to me with further information on this motor which I thought you might appreciate seeing.

Here's the link
.

Wow! looking more futuristic these days.

MS.

 

[tillson]

It's a nice looking motor unit. As always, these things need to prove themselves whilst in the hands of the consumer. A welcome addition though.

 

[mountainsport]

It's a nice looking motor unit. As always, these things need to prove themselves whilst in the hands of the consumer. A welcome addition though.

Tell me about it tillson, I like your choice of words.

MS.

 

[flecc]

Given how sound the original Yamaha motor units were from 1999 on, plus their major position in the Japanese market, I'm quietly confident that this new design could be rather special.

It has the high efficiency of the single stage reduction that the current Panasonic units have, but with the more troublefree chainwheel drive rather than having a separate small motor sprocket. That's a good starting recipe for reliability.
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[Spencer Ivy]

We spent quite a while riding these new motors at the Haibike presentation last weekend. I rode up a number of 20-25% climbs very easily. The motors are super and the engineers who designed and built them are clearly driven and passionate. The whole point of these motors and batteries is to be cheaper, lighter and feel more responsive than the Big B. They are aimed at the 20-40 year old demographic like no ther bike before. With the greatest of respect please don't get too hung up about what Yamaha did in the past or what they look like...come ride them and see how good you think they are. We all know that a 100 meter ride is better than a 3 week chat !

 

[Jonah]

With respect, a 100 metre ride is not much better than a 5 minute chat. Test rides around a car park tell you nothing, a good few miles including some decent hills is needed to find out what it's really like. But I agree with your sentiment - there is no substitute for actually trying one out.

 

[oldtom]

Given how sound the original Yamaha motor units were from 1999 on, plus their major position in the Japanese market, I'm quietly confident that this new design could be rather special.

It has the high efficiency of the single stage reduction that the current Panasonic units have, but with the more troublefree chainwheel drive rather than having a separate small motor sprocket. That's a good starting recipe for reliability.
.

It certainly reads well Flecc but until one of these bikes is tested by some of the ebike press, experienced riders who can compare with some objectivity, my inclination is to treat all this pre-launch publicity with a pinch of salt.

I note they offer us some great numbers to consider, such as 70Nm of torque, peaking at 80Nm. Like some others previously though, they don't actually specify where that torque is measured so to me, it's just advertising hype for the time being.

Selective statistics in vehicle launch publicity is nothing new, indeed most of us are inured to it nowadays and tend to ignore much of it on the basis that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is just that.

Having said all that, if this new motor does raise the bar among legal 250w EAPCs, then I welcome its introduction as broader competition between ebike engine suppliers can only be good for the market. If this motor is as good as the hype and is fitted to some lightweight bikes, perhaps we'll see something of a shift away from the now seemingly Bosch-dominated scene in the medium to high-end sector.

I look forward to reading more about this new kid on the block.

Tom

 

[trex]

the torque is normally measured at the motor shaft.

 

[flecc]

It certainly reads well Flecc but until one of these bikes is tested by some of the ebike press, experienced riders who can compare with some objectivity, my inclination is to treat all this pre-launch publicity with a pinch of salt.

Of course such publicity always presents in the best light, but being familiar with Yamaha's past e-bike motors and bikes I've little doubt that it will be good. They wouldn't enter the market against a company like Bosch unless they had a good chance of success.

When a German company like Haibike adopt them in parallel with the German Bosch units, they must be impressed. Just look at how quickly all the German e-bike companies dumped Panasonic when the home grown Bosch arrived, they are nothing if not patriots. Apparently unnecessarily returning to using a Japanese product as well must have a sound reason.
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[oldtom]

Apparently unnecessarily returning to using a Japanese product as well must have a sound reason.

Good point!

Tom

 

[PhilX]

Been riding a Haibike Xduro SL (bought from Martin) with the old Bosch motor for about a year now and have found it to be a well put together bit of kit. It's been reliable as well as great fun.
From a punters point of view healthy competition is no bad thing as it can drive technology forward. Perhaps in the future it will help bring prices down a little.
Phil

 

[EddiePJ]

Perhaps in the future it will help bring prices down a little.
Phil

It's never going to happen in the UK. A mere 21miles of water instantly adds 1k plus to the price.

Customers in the UK, just seem happy to their pants pulled down without even questioning it.

 

[tillson]

It's never going to happen in the UK. A mere 21miles of water instantly adds 1k plus to the price.

That's the premium we pay for living on Treasure Island.

 

[flecc]

It's never going to happen in the UK. A mere 21miles of water instantly adds 1k plus to the price.

Customers in the UK, just seem happy to their pants pulled down without even questioning it.

It sometimes seems that way, but it's not with everything. We are the world champions of low cost services. For example, the low cost airlines we invented or helped to flourish, Freddie Laker years ago and today's Easy Jet and Ryanair. Note the Easyjet founder was Greek, but came to England to create his low cost enterprise, and Ryanair would never have flourished so much without the British base to operate services from.

And of course we were originators of the low cost package holidays.

The problem is primarily with imported goods.
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[PhilX]

It's never going to happen in the UK. A mere 21miles of water instantly adds 1k plus to the price.

Customers in the UK, just seem happy to their pants pulled down without even questioning it.

Hi Eddie,
As you say a mere 21 miles of water.... living where we do there's always the option of Newhaven Ferry.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

It's never going to happen in the UK. A mere 21miles of water instantly adds 1k plus to the price.

Customers in the UK, just seem happy to their pants pulled down without even questioning it.

Hi Eddie,

Just to put this into perspective. I can already confirm we will be supplying a Yamaha eBike for £1850.. But that's top secret.. So keep it hush!

Martin

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

It certainly reads well Flecc but until one of these bikes is tested by some of the ebike press, experienced riders who can compare with some objectivity, my inclination is to treat all this pre-launch publicity with a pinch of salt.
Tom

Hi Tom,

Rode the new system for approx 3.5hours weekend just gone in Germany. Really put it through its paces!

Full review ready to go live on my blog in approx 24 hours.

I was a Panasonic man at heart, then became the Bosch man. Been working and riding Bosch since it came out and been there every step of the way. Therefore I can give a good review and comparison between the 3.

Regards
Martin

 

[EddiePJ]

Nice one Martin. I'm sure that it will do well

Hi Eddie,
As you say a mere 21 miles of water.... living where we do there's always the option of Newhaven Ferry.

Newhaven Ferry!!! I'd sooner pay the extra 1K than chance ever having a reliable crossing on that.

 

[PhilX]

Where's that sense of adventure gone Eddie...